The material in this report represents some of the earliest results of field research in the languages of Nepal by the Summer Institute of Linguistics, Inc. Some of the results presented here are tentative hypotheses, subject to revision in the light of continuing research. Part I, the present volume, presents phonological data in terms of…

Three examples are given of cases where differences between Spanish and English syntax and intonation patterns are taught best through direct translation. Grammatical difficulties caused by "gustar" are overcome through the use of translation using "appeal" rather than "please". Similarly, problems for native speakers of English arising with…

By examining the relations among sections of the fundamental frequency contour used in judging an utterance as a question or statement, the experiment described in this report seeks a more detailed understanding of auditory-linguistic interaction in the perception of intonation contours. The perceptual process may be divided into stages (auditory,…

This study investigated some characteristics of intonation patterns in the English spoken by black adolescents in Seattle, Washington. It was hypothesized that if intonation is central to communicating attitude, and if Black English intonation differs systematically from that of Standard English, communication between blacks and whites may be…

Neurophysiological aspects of the development and use of accents in language are considered, including the function of age of the second language learner, left brain hemisphere, language tasks, and other neuroanatomical considerations. (CB)

It is argued that second-language classroom communication is often limited by the lack of instructor use of tonic pronouns. Two uses of the pronoun form that should be used from the beginning of the second-language program to promote authentic communication are described. (MSE)

Describes the development and evaluation of machinery for the visual feedback of intonation at the Institute for Phonetics, Nijmegen (The Netherlands). In terms of possible applications to second language language learning, equipment such as a pitch visualizer could assist the teaching of pronunciation and intonation, as well as be incorporated…

Interesting dialogs which involve the student emotionally are advocated as a means of introducing new structures and idioms to the language student. (FWB)

Explores the relationship between scientists' orientation to one another and to an experimental apparatus, analyzing as data a videotaped authentic interaction among co-workers in a chemistry laboratory. Demonstrates how the scientists display systematic orientation to the apparatus as their common spatial point of reference and the physical…

Describes a two phase experiment that was conducted at the university of Ottawa using audiocassettes and multimedia while teaching French, specifically French phonetics, intonation, and pronunciation, to a group of low-intermediate level language students. Looks at whether receptive and productive skills are influenced by the explicit teaching of…

Reports the findings of research on the acquisition of French intonation by native speakers of Canadian English and Japanese. Results show that cross-linguistic influence in intonation is of central importance to the learner's acquisition of the target system, and that one should not underestimate the degree of the complexity of that influence.…

An historical account of the use of the acute accent mark in written Spanish discusses the effects of Greek, Latin, Italian, and French precursors on the early use of the accent and on its current modern use. (CB)

Phonological abilities of 12 Cantonese-speaking children (ages 4-7) with hearing impairments are described in terms of consonant, vowel, and tone inventories; phonological error patterns; and lexical comprehension. Unexpected results were seen in children's mastery of the perception and production of lexical tone and the lack of performance…